The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-29

Cape Town, Where he would meet the English
mail steamer, and in one month from the
present date he once more in England.
That evening he dined with Mr.. Alston,
Jeremy and Roger as usual, and no alusion
was made TO the events Of the morning.
About IL o'clock he went TO bed, but not to
sleep. The post cart left at A. At 3 he rose
very quietly and put few things into
leather saddle bag. Then he slipped out
through the window of his room, crept
stealthiy down the garden path and struck
out for the Potchefstroom road. But, silently
and secretly as he went, there went behind
him one more silent and secret than he--one
to whose race, through long generations Of
tracking foes and wild beasts, silence and
secrecy had become an instinct
The Hottentot followed him in the din,
light, never more than fifty PAGES behind
him, sometimes not more than ten, and yet
totally invisible Now he was behind bush
or TUT OF rank grass, now he was running
Gown ditch, and now again creeping over
the open ON his belly like two legged snake.
AS soon as Ernest got out of the town and
began to loiter along the Potchefstroom road
the Hottentot halted, uttering to himself
cultural expression of satisfaction. Then
watching bis opportunity he turned and ran
swiftly back 10 Pretoria. In ten minutes he
was at Ernest's house
In front Of the door were five horses, three
with white riders, two being held by Kaffers.
On the veranda, as usual smoking, was Mr..
Alston and with him Jeremy, the latter armed
and spurred
The Hottentot made his report and van
ished
Mr. Alston turned and addressed Jeremy
In the tone of one giving an order
Nov CO." he said at last, handing linn a
paper and Jeremy went; and mounting one
OF the led horses, a powerful cream colored
animal with cnow white name and tail,
galloped off into the twilight, followed by the
three white men.
Meanwhile, Ernest walked quietly along
the road. Once he paused, thinking that he
heard the sound OF galloping horses, half a
mile or so to the left. 1t passed and he went
ON again. Presently the mist began to lift
and the glorious sun came up; then came q
rumble Of wheels running along the silent
road, and the post cart with six fresh
horses was hard upon him. He halted. md
held up his hand to the native driver. The
man knew him, and stopped the team ut
once
"I am going with you to 'Potchefstroom.
Apollo" he said.
"All right, sar plenty of room inside, sar.
NO passenger this trip, sar, and damn good
job, too"
Ernest got up and Off they went. He was
safe now. There was no telegraph to
Potcbefstroom. and nothing could catch tbe
post cart il it had an hours start.
A mile further on there was a hill. nm
which the unlovely apollo walked his horses
AT the top of the hill was a clump Of mimosa
bush, out of which, to the intense aston.
ishment of both Ernest and Apollo. tbera
emerged four mounted men with led horse.
One OF these men was Jeremy; 1t was
impossible to mistake his powerful form.
sitting on his horse with the grip of centaur.
Ihey rode up to the post cart in silence
Jeremy motioned to Apollo to pull up He
obeyed, and one Of the men dismounted and
seized the horses head. I.
"Tricked. by Heavenl" said Ernest.
"You must come back with me, Ernest
said Jeremy, quietly. II have a warrant for
your arrest as a deserter, signed by the gov
ernor."
Sand If / refussp
"Then my orders are to take you back"
Ernest drew his revolver
This is a trick" he said, land I shall not
go back"
Then l must take you," was the reply;
anu oeIeLly cOOly uiSlnOuntel.
Ernest's eyes flashed dangerously. and be
lifted the pistol.
"Oh, yes, you can shoot me IL YOU like. Init
if you do, the others will take YOU - and he
continued to walk toward him.
Ernest cooked his revolver and pointed IT,
"At your peril" he said
$50 be it, said Jeremy, and he walked I'M
to the cart. Ernest dropped his weapon.
1t is mean of you, Jeremy" he said. "You
know | can't fire at you"
"Of course you can't, old fellow. Come.
skip out OF that; you are keeping the mail.
have horse ready for you, slow one: You
won't be able to run away on him."
Ernest obeyed, feeling rather small, and In
half an hour was back at<his own house.
Mr.. Aston was waiting for him.
Good morning, Ernest" he said cheer
fully. "Weut out driving and come back
riding, ehl"
Ernest looked at him, and his brown cheek
flushed. -
"You have played me a dirty trick he
said.
Look here my boy" answered Mr.. Aston.
sternly, u am slow at making friend; but
when once take his hand hold it till one of
the two grows cold | should have been no
true friend to you if had let you go ON this
give me your word that you will not attempt
to escape, or must l put you under arrestp-
81 give you my word" answered Ernest.
humbled, land | ask your forgiveness.
Thus 1t was that, for the first time in his
life, Ernest tried to run away.
lhat morning Jeremy, missing Ernest.
went into his room to see what he was doing
The room was shuttered to Keep out the glare
of the sun; but when he got used to the light
he discovered Ernest sitting at the table. and
staring straight before him with a wild look
in his eyes.
"Come in, old fellow, come in,p he called
out with bitter jocularity, "and assist at this
happy ceremony. Rather dark, isn't III but
lovers like the dark Eookl" he went on,
pointing to his watch, which lay upon tho
table before him, ''by English time it is now
about twenty minutes past IL. They are be-
ing married now, Jeremy, my boy, can feel
IT. By heaVenl | have only to shut my eyes
and can see it,"
Come, come, Ernest, said Jeremy, don't
go ON like that. You are not yourself, man n
He laughed and answered:
81 am sure wish / wasn't. | tell vou T
can see it all, can see Kesterwick church
fun Of people, and before the altar, in her
white dress, is Eva; but her face is winter
than her dress, Jeremy, and her eyes are very
much afraid. And there is Florence, with
her dark smile, and your friend Mr.. Plow-
den, too with his cold eyes and the cross
upon his Forehead. Oh, l assure YOU | can
see them all. 1t is a pretty wedding, very.
There, 1t is over now, and think | will 90
away before the kissing.a
sob, hang it al, Ernest, wake up" said
Jeremy, shaking him by the shoulder. "You
Will drive yourself mad if you give your i'm
agnation so much rein.n
Wake up, my boyi l feel more inclined
to sleep. Have some grog. Won't yeul Wen,
l will"
He rose and went to the nlantelpiece, on
which stood n square bottle of Hollands and
tumbler. Rapidly filling the tumblcr with
raw spirits he drank it as fast rs the contrac-
tions of the throat would allow. lie filed it
again, and drank that too. Then he fell in
sensible upon the bed.
1t was strange scene, and in some ways a
coarse one, but yet not without pathos of
its own.
Ernest" said Mr., Aston, three weeks
later, "you are strong enough to travel now
what do you say TO six months or "a year
among the elephantsl The oxen are in first
rate condition, and we ought to get to our
ground in six or seven weellsn
Ernest, who was lying back in a low cane
chair, looking very thin and pale, thought for
moment before he answered:
"Au right, I'm your man, only let's get off
soon. am tired of this place, and want
something to think aboutn
"NOu luVe given nm fha idaa of